Solar panels are a significant investment for both homes and businesses, promising reduced energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint. However, like any investment, understanding their longevity is essential for making the most out of your solar system.
This blog explores the average lifespan of solar panels, the factors influencing their durability, and how to ensure they last as long as possible.
How long do solar PV panels last?
On average, solar panels have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years. This does not mean they stop producing electricity after this period, but their efficiency gradually decreases. After this timeframe, while panels may still function, their reduced efficiency might mean they will need to be replaced to keep up with your energy needs.
Tips for making your solar panels last longer
There are some simple ways you can maintain your solar panels so they last longer and work at maximum efficiency. Let’s look at some of them:
Regular Cleaning
Ensuring solar panels are clean and free from debris like leaves, dirt, and bird droppings helps maintain their efficiency. Using a damp cloth, you can carefully wipe your panel clean to help improve its efficiency.
Did you know? Rain can actually help with the efficiency of your solar panel. Over time, dirt and dust accumulate on the panel which can block the solar cells, affecting its overall efficiency. So, on a rainy day, the rain will help to wash away the dirt to bring your panels back up to maximum efficiency. So, next time it rains, be thankful that you are getting a bit of a free cleaning of your solar panels!
Regular maintenance
By performing regular maintenance and inspections, qualified professionals can identify and address problems before they escalate. Performing an annual check-up ensures all components are functioning correctly and extends the system’s lifespan.
Protective Measures
Installing protective measures such as anti-bird nets and meshes can prevent birds from nesting under your panels or crawling underneath. As solar panels have electronic components, a bird’s nest can increase the chances of a fire. So protecting your solar panels from wildlife will be an easy way to help increase your panel’s lifespan.
If you would like a professional to inspect your solar panel system, speak to the team today.
Do solar panels degrade?
As technology improves, newer solar panels tend to be more efficient than older models. However, on average, solar panels degrade in efficiency by around 1% per year. So even after the solar panel’s average lifespan of 25-30 years, your panel should still be functioning at roughly 75% efficiency.
Over time, solar panel manufacturers hope that this degradation will decrease as over time they use newer technology and materials to manufacture solar panels.
Can you recycle solar panels?
Solar panels, like most electronic equipment, use a lot of materials, some of which can be difficult to recycle. Panels are made up of an aluminium frame, glass, silicon cells, silver electrodes and various electronic equipment such as wires and junction boxes.
Companies that specialise in the recycling of solar panels can break down the panels and re-use materials where possible and recycle other materials. Even though recycling panels can be a laborious task, as technology improves, it will be easier and more sustainable to recycle panels over time.
Disposing of your solar panel ethically is an important step to continued sustainability – you should not throw your old solar panel in landfill. If you have an old solar panel (or are replacing your system) your solar panel installers should be able to take away and recycle your old system for you. If you need help with removing and recycling your panels, get in touch with the team at Orange Solar today.
Solar panel lifespan key takeaways
- On average, solar panels have a lifespan of 25-30 years
- Solar panels degrade in efficiency by around 1% every year
- Clean, maintain and protect your panels to improve their lifespan
- Recycle your panels using reputable solar panel recycling companies
Orange Solar Systems Ltd
If you are planning on installing a new solar system to your home or business, the team at Orange Solar would love to help.
We have years of experience in installing solar PV panels and battery storage installations in the south of England. Our team can visit your site and provide you with a no-obligation quote and talk through how much your solar system will save you over its lifetime.
Get in touch today and let’s get you on your way to a more sustainable future!
https://www.windandsun.co.uk/pages/recycling-solar-pv-panels
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